Stardew Valley Friendship Guide: Maximize Your Relationships
Building strong relationships is key to thriving in Stardew Valley's charming Pelican Town. This guide details how to boost your friendship levels with villagers, whether you're aiming for friendship or romance. While talking and gifting are essential, not all interactions are equal. This guide breaks down the mechanics to help you achieve maximum friendship.
Updated January 4, 2025, to reflect the 1.6 update. While the core friendship system remains the same, some additions in 1.6 are highlighted below.
The Heart System
Access your relationship status with each NPC via the in-game menu's heart tab. This shows friendship levels (hearts) earned. Reaching certain heart levels unlocks special events, mailed recipes, and unique dialogue. However, the heart display doesn't fully explain how friendship points are earned.
Understanding Friendship Points
One heart requires 250 friendship points. Most interactions—talking, gifting—affect friendship. Positive actions earn points; ignoring villagers or negative actions decrease friendship.
Boosting Friendship Gain
The "Friendship 101" book permanently boosts friendship gains by 10%. It's a ninth Prize Machine reward (Mayor's Mansion) or a rare Year 3 Bookseller purchase (9% chance, 20,000g).
Interaction Point Values
Numerous actions impact friendship points.
Daily Interactions
- Talking: +20 (or +10 if they're busy). Ignoring a villager results in a friendship decrease (-2 per day, -10 with a given bouquet, -20 for a spouse).
- Bulletin Board Deliveries: +150 with the recipient.
Gifting
Villagers have gift preferences:
- Loved: +80 points
- Liked: +45 points
- Neutral: +20 points
- Disliked: -20 points
- Hated: -40 points
Feast of the Winter Star gifts are 5x the usual points; birthday gifts are 8x. Careful gift selection is crucial for special occasions.
Stardrop Tea
Stardrop Tea is a universally loved gift (+250 points/heart, tripled for birthdays/Winter Star). It can be obtained from the Prize Machine, Golden Fishing Chests, the Helper's Bundle (remixed Community Center), or from the raccoon for completing requests.
Movie Theater
Invite a villager to the movies using a 
Movie Ticket (1000g). Movie and concession choices impact points:
- Loved Movie: +200 points
- Liked Movie: +100 points
- Disliked Movie: 0 points
- Loved Concession: +50 points
- Liked Concession: +25 points
- Disliked Concession: 0 points
Conversations and Dialogue
Dialogue choices impact friendship (+10 to +50 or a decrease). Heart Events can significantly alter friendship (up to ±200 points).
Festivals and Events
- Flower Dance (4+ hearts): +1 heart
- Luau: Soup quality impacts friendship (+120 to -100 points).
- Community Center Bulletin Board: Completing all bundles grants +500 points (+2 hearts) with each non-dateable villager.
By understanding these mechanics, you can effectively cultivate friendships and unlock all Stardew Valley has to offer.
